Cheryl E. Kennedy

Analysis of transmitted optical spectrum enabling accelerated testing of multijunction concentrating photovoltaic designs

Concentrating photovoltaic (CPV) technology has recently gained interest based on its scalability and expected low levelized cost of electricity. The reliability of encapsulation materials used in CPV systems, however, is not well established. For example, the present qualification test for CPV modules includes only real-time ultraviolet (UV) exposure, i.e., methods for accelerated UV testing have not yet been developed. To better define the stress inherent to CPV systems, the UV and infrared spectra transmitted through representative optical systems were evaluated. Measurements of optical components are used to assess expected optical performance and quantify damaging optical exposure. Optical properties (transmittance, refractive index, reflectance, and absorptance) of candidate materials (including PMMA, soda-lime glass, borosilicate glass, and quartz refractors), components (including Ag- and Al-enabled reflectors), and encapsulants (including EVA, ionomer, PDMS, PPMS, polyolefin, and PVB) were identified. The activation spectrum was calculated for the representative optical systems using an assumed action spectrum to compare the expected damaging dose of UV radiation delivered to the cell encapsulation. The dose and flux analysis identifies the significance of IR relative to UV exposure for CPV systems. Because UV light is typically more highly attenuated, the UV dose within the encapsulation may not greatly exceed the unconcentrated global solar condition, but the thermal load scales nearly directly with the geometric concentration. Relative to a previous analysis for crystalline silicon cell technology, the analysis here is performed for III-V multijunction technology. Novel aspects here also include additional materials (such as TPU encapsulation) and additional components (transmission through silicone on glass lenses, antireflective coatings, and the front glass used with reflective systems, as well as reflection off of the cell).

Silvered-PMMA reflectors

Abstract Metallized, flexible polymeric reflector materials are much lighter and potentially less expensive than the conventional glass/metal mirrors often used in solar thermal concentrators such as heliostats and parabolic dishes and troughs. Unweathered silvered-PMMA reflectors have a solar reflectance at least as high as glass reflectors, but their environmental durability needs to be demonstrated. ECP-305, a silvered-PMMA film available commercially from the 3M Company and developed in collaboration with the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, is the current state of the art. Important progress has been made in overcoming the three primary mechanisms causing ECP-305 to lose reflectance. These mechanisms are: (1) photon-induced silver corrosion, (2) surface soiling, and (3) a form of delamination called tunneling. Given the progress in resolving these performance lifetime issues, silvered-PMMA films should meet the reflectance and durability goals.

Analysis of Transmitted Optical Spectrum Enabling Accelerated Testing of CPV Designs

Concentrated photovoltaics (CPV) has recently gained interest based on its scalability and expected low levelized cost of electricity. The reliability of materials used in CPV systems, however, is not well established. The current qualification test for photodegradation of CPV modules includes only real-time ultraviolet (UV) exposure, i.e. methods for accelerated UV testing have not been developed. Therefore, the UV and infrared (IR) spectra transmitted through representative optical systems is evaluated in this paper. The measurements of concentrating optics are used to assess expected optical performance as well as to understand how to quantify damaging optical exposure. Optical properties (transmittance, refractive index, reflectance, and absorptance) of candidate materials are identified. The dose and flux analysis here identifies the increased significance of IR (as opposed to UV) exposure for CPV systems, particularly for the most concentrating systems. For these, the UV dose may not greatly exceed the unconcentrated global solar condition, but the thermal load scales nearly directly with the geometric concentration.

Durability of poly(methyl methacrylate) lenses used in concentrating photovoltaic modules

Concentrating photovoltaic (CPV) technology has recently gained interest based on their expected low levelized cost of electricity, high efficiency, and scalability. Many CPV systems use Fresnel lenses made of poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) to obtain a high optical flux density. The optical and mechanical durability of such components, however, are not well established relative to the desired service life of 30 years. Specific reliability issues may include: reduced optical transmittance, discoloration, hazing, surface erosion, embrittlement, crack growth, physical aging, shape setting (warpage), and soiling. The initial results for contemporary lens- and material-specimens aged cumulatively to 6 months are presented. The study here uses an environmental chamber equipped with a xenon-arc lamp to age specimens at least 8x the nominal field rate. A broad range in the affected characteristics (including optical transmittance, yellowness index, mass loss, and contact angle) has been observed to date, depending on the formulation of PMMA used. The most affected specimens are further examined in terms of their visual appearance, surface roughness (examined via atomic force microscopy), and molecular structure (via Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy).

Ethylene-Vinyl Acetate Potential Problems for Photovoltaic Packaging

Photovoltaic (PV) devices are typically encapsulated using ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA) to provide mechanical support, optical coupling, electrical isolation, and protection against environmental exposure. Under exposure to atmospheric water and/or ultraviolet radiation, EVA will decompose to produce acetic acid, lowering the pH and increasing the surface corrosion rates of embedded devices. Even though acetic acid is produced at a very slow rate, it may not take much to catalyze reactions that lead to rapid module deterioration. Another consideration is that the glass transition of EVA, as measured using dynamic mechanical analysis, begins at temperatures of about -15 degC. Temperatures lower than this can be reached for extended periods of time in some climates. Because of increased moduli below the glass transition temperature, a module may be more vulnerable to damage if a mechanical load is applied by snow or wind at low temperatures. Modules using EVA should not be rated for use at such low temperatures without additional low-temperature mechanical testing beyond the scope of UL1703

Role of inorganic oxide interlayers in improving the adhesion of sputtered silver film on PMMA

Large mirrors are used to concentrate sunlight for renewable power generation. The reflector materials that are used must be inexpensive and maintain high specular reflectance for extended lifetimes in severe outdoor environments. Polymer reflectors are lighter than glass mirrors, offer greater system-design flexibility, and have the potential for lower cost. The state-of-the-art commercial reflector is a silvered polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) polymer. Interlayer adhesion failure can limit the performance of the optical components used to convert solar energy into thermal or electric energy. Optically transparent, inorganic interlayers can improve adhesion in multilayer structures. We have evaluated interlayer adhesion in sandwich structures that are representative of solar mirrors and other devices. Experimental structures were fabricated by vacuum-sputtering thin layers onto substrates. The structures were evaluated for optical performance and for adhesion. Calculations show that the Lifshitz-van der Wa...

Reflectance optimization of second-surface silvered glass mirrors for concentrating solar power and concentrating photovoltaics application

Methods developed to maximize the overall reflectance of the second-surface silvered glass used in concentrating solar power (CSP) and concentrating photovoltaics (CPV) solar systems are reported. The reflectance at shorter wavelengths is increased with the aid of a dielectric enhancing layer between the silver and the glass, while at longer wavelengths it is enhanced by use of glass with negligible iron content. The calculated enhancement of reflectance, compared to unenhanced silver on standard low-iron float glass, corresponds to a 4.5% increase in reflectance averaged across the full solar spectrum, appropriate for CSP, and 3.5% for CPV systems using triple junction cells. An experimental reflector incorporating these improvements, of drawn crown glass and a silvered second-surface with dielectric enhancement, was measured at National Renewable Energy Laboratory to have 95.4% solar weighted reflectance. For comparison, nonenhanced, wet-silvered reflectors of the same 4-mm thickness show reflectance ranging from 91.6% to 94.6%, depending on iron content. A potential drawback of using iron-free drawn glass is reduced concentration in high concentration systems because of the inherent surface errors. This effect is largely mitigated for glass shaped by slumping into a concave mold, rather than by bending. Finally, an experiment capable of determining which junction limits the triple junction cell is demonstrated.

Second-surface silvered glass solar mirrors of very high reflectance

This paper reports methods developed to maximize the overall reflectance second-surface silvered glass. The reflectance at shorter wavelengths is increased with the aid of a dielectric enhancing layer between the silver and the glass, while at longer wavelengths it is enhanced by use of glass with negligible iron content. The calculated enhancement of reflectance, compared to unenhanced silver on standard low-iron float glass, corresponds to a 4.4% increase in reflectance averaged across the full solar spectrum, appropriate for CSP, and 2.7% for CPV systems using triple junction cells. An experimental reflector incorporating these improvements, of drawn crown glass and a silvered second-surface with dielectric boost, was measured at NREL to have 95.4% solar weighted reflectance. For comparison, non-enhanced, wetsilvered reflectors of the same 4 mm thickness show reflectance ranging from 91.6 - 94.6%, depending on iron content. A potential drawback of using iron-free drawn glass is reduced concentration in high concentration systems because of the inherent surface errors. This effect is largely mitigated for glass shaped by slumping into a concave mold, rather than by bending.

Furthur Analysis of Accelerated Exposure Testing of Thin-Glass Mirror Matrix

Concentrating solar power (CSP) companies have deployed thin-glass mirrors produced by wet-silver processes on {approx}1-mmthick, relatively lightweight glass. These mirrors are bonded to metal substrates in commercial installations and have the confidence of the CSP industry. Initial hemispherical reflectance is {approx}93%-96%, and the cost is {approx}